By Hila Davies & illustrated by Iga Jasinska
Cold feet. Misty windows. These winter mornings are doing my head in. Waking up in the dark makes early mornings even more painful. Where has the morning light gone? There is nothing I want more than to stay in this duvet cocoon. Cosy sheets. Cold nose. We have arrived to the bleak mid-winter.
My recent remedy for January blues has been quite simple. I discovered it on what had to be one of the most blustery days this month, my morale sodden with the woes of yet another 60 odd days before normal daylight resumes. Getting ready that morning, I decided to ditch my usual uniform of shades of black and navy and put on the most outrageously coloured thing I could find – a vintage Coogi jumper I fished out of my grandmother’s wardrobe. Now, when I say outrageous, I mean outrageous. The colours on this thing can only be described as synonymous to clown sick. But it’s thick, and warm, and most importantly, the complete opposite of a depressing January sky.
Here was the answer to my seasonal depression – a brightly coloured wardrobe.
There was something transformative about it. I put it on and suddenly felt forced to reflect its optimism – as if anything but a sunny disposition would ruin my outfit. The colour somehow returned to my cheeks and jumping back into the comfort of my duvet suddenly seemed less desirable.
Living in London, I can sometimes feel forced to match the vibes of the big smoke. Dark eyes, long black coats, with the occasional brightly-coloured A.P.C scarf. We dress militantly, as if the tube is going to chuck us out if there isn’t at least one other person with the same shoes as us in the carriage. I also used to think I didn’t look very good in colour. It felt childish, or too feminine – all the things we are conditioned to not want to be. Nope – better to opt for a Kim Kardashian-esque ‘vision in beige minimalism’, or what I now like to call, ‘vision in beige vomit’.
I think it’s time for some fun instead.
This month, I invite you to embody everyone’s favourite stock image – the one colourful umbrella in a sea of black ones. Go have a peek in your wardrobe and pick out that item of your clothing that you never wear because you think it doesn’t match, or that it’s too out there, or you think your friends will hate. 2023 is about sparking joy – and if an item of clothing is sparking joy for you, put it on your damn body! Let it taste the winter air, give a big F you to the grey, rainy sky, and say goodbye to the back of your wardrobe for good. Life is too short to be a black umbrella.
